Gremlin Ambush – Encounter – CftD 6

This encounter is designed to be the sixth encounter in the “Chalice for the Devourer” beta testing Adventure. It can also be adapted to be a generic gremlin ambush.

Overview

Type: Shooting Galary (Special Rules)

In a shooting gallery, all target distance is determined by the range makers and not measured to the specific target.

Location: On a train, river boat or riding with a stagecoach through hilly terrain.

Outline:

• Introduction
• Wave 1
• Wave 2
• Wave 3
• Post Action (“Chalice for the Devourer” Adventure)

NPCs:

• Allied:
  • Sonny James (Train Engineer)
  • Willma Jergins (River boat captain)
  • Kelly Birch (Stagecoach Driver)
  • Expulsior Tome
• Neutral
  • Joseph Cartage
• Hostile
  • Gremlin Officer
  • Gremlin Soldier
  • Gremlin Marksman

Location

Map should be large and (35+x25+) with the path of the boat, train or coach bring along one edge.

Hills, rocks and terrain should extend up from the path with a large open section in the middle. (35×12)

Distance markers every 5 squares from the train/boat/coach should extend through the open space out to 30 squares

Players may place their characters where they feel on the train/boat or on or around the coach.

Expulsior Tome and Joseph Cartage will be in the middle car of the train, middle of the boat or inside the coach.

Introduction

Our heroes have escaped the destruction of the Gillatram in Terrence and are well on their way to the Reliquary at Plataveta. The Sonotra mountains are beginning to rise in the distance.

As they round a bend, they hear the bellowing of a massive steam whistle coming from high up in the hills. The Engineer/Captain/Coach Driver yells “Gremlins!!” That’s a raid whistle!”

A moment later you see a Gremlin war wagon/war boat hurtling down the bluffs toward you, what do you do?

What do you do?

Note: They players may choose to surrender, if they do so the gremlins will take all firearms, anything shiny or fancy and the steam engine from the train/riverboat. but leave the players will melee weapons, anything successfully concealed and the Expulsior and Joeseph Cartage unaffected. They may surrender at any point during the encounter. If they surrender, they skip encounter 7 in CotD.

Wave 1

1x Gremlin Wagon/Boat

• 300 blood damage to destroy wagon/boat directly
• Functions as a swarm, players only need to indicate which wagon or boat they are targeting gremlins on for shooting and the hits will resolve on the front gremlin until there are no gremlins left. Hits do not spread damage across multiple gremlins
  • 1x Gremlin officer at front
  • 5x Gremlin Soldiers behind

Wagon/boat starts at the 30 square marker and moves up 5 squares each round. The gremlins will fire at 15 squares and board the train/riverboat/coach the following round after the wagon/boat reaches the train/riverboat/coach and fight using melee

• The wagon/boat will fall off if all the gremlins on it go down.

After all the gremlins are down, the players will have time to take a Break recovery action

Wave 2

Same action as wave 1

1x Gremlin Wagon/Boat

• 300 blood damage to destroy wagon/boat directly
• 1x Gremlin officer at front
• 5x Gremlin Soldiers behind

4x Gremlin Sharpshooters hidden in hills at 10sq, 15sq, 20sq, 25sq

• Gremlins will become visible when they shoot
• Gremlins can be found with a wilderness observation check
  • 10sq – Wilderness Observation 1S
  • 15sq – 3S
  • 20sq – 4S
  • 25sq – 6S
• Gremlin sharpshooters are stationary and as such move 3 squares per round as if the train/riverboat/coach was passing them, once they are off the map they no longer engage.

After all the gremlins are down, the players will have time to take a Break recovery action

Wave 3

Same as Wave 2

2x Gremlin Wagon/Boat

4x Gremlin Sharpshooters

After all the gremlins are down, the players will have time to take a Break recovery action

Post Action

The last gremlin falls and another set of long blasts from the battle whistle high in the hills echos around the heroes. “That’s the retreat call!” yells the engineer/captain/driver. “We should be safe now” they exclaim and let out a triumphant whoop!